Pittsburgh Pirates at Toronto Blue Jays

The Pirates beat the Tigers, 7-5, in Detroit on Thursday, splitting their two games in the Motor City after winning both against the Tigers in Pittsburgh. The Pirates have now won six out of their last eight, after going 2-8 in their previous 10.

The Blue Jays beat the Yankees, 4-0, in Toronto on Thursday in the series rubber match. It was Toronto's first shutout since June 28, and its sixth of the season. Last year, the Blue Jays had 10 shutouts, tied for third-most in the AL.

The Pirates and Blue Jays have met in four series all-time, with each team winning six of the 12 games. In those 12 games, the Blue Jays have scored an average of 5.42 runs compared to 4.92 for the Pirates, but Pittsburgh has outscored Toronto 21-7 in innings 7+.

Jameson Taillon allowed two runs (both earned) in 6.1 innings against the Padres on Sunday, taking a no-decision. The quality start was in stark contrast to his previous two starts, when he allowed a combined 18 runs in just 6.2 innings.

Marcus Stroman allowed three runs (two earned) in 6.2 innings against the Astros on Sunday, taking a no-decision. Stroman has received a combined 14 runs in support in his last two starts, after getting just one run in each of his prior two starts.

Adam Frazier was hitting .255 prior to the All-Star break, but is batting .407 since, a jump of .152. That's the biggest increase in baseball among qualified hitters. Additionally, David Freese has jumped from .244 to .333, the fifth-biggest increase in MLB.

TORONTO -- The Toronto Blue Jays will find out Saturday how long they will be without catcher Russell Martin as they continue their three-game interleague series against the Pittsburgh Pirates at the Rogers Centre.

Martin suffered a strained left oblique and left Friday's 4-2 loss to the Pirates after the first inning. He was scheduled for an MRI exam on Saturday. Oblique injuries often require considerable time to heal.

He was replaced by Raffy Lopez, who joined the Blue Jays from Triple-A Buffalo a week ago, and did a solid job, going 1-for-3. The Blue Jays already have catchers Miguel Montero and Luke Maile on the disabled list so they might recall Mike Ohlman from Buffalo.

"Russ is the rock," said Blue Jays starter Marcus Stroman, who allowed four unearned runs in eight inning Friday. "He's the staple that's always there. He plays through a bunch of bumps and bruises each and every day, and he's the definition of a warrior."

There is further intrigue Saturday. The Blue Jays will start right-hander Chris Rowley, a West Point graduate, who will make his major league debut. Pittsburgh will start right-hander Trevor Williams (5-4, 4.17 ERA).

The Pirates also had an injury loss during the game Friday, but the situation does not seem as serious as Toronto's. Center fielder Andrew McCutchen hit an RBI double in Pittsburgh's four-run third inning and was later removed for Starling Marte in that inning with a sore left knee. McCutchen is listed as day to day left patellofemoral discomfort.

"I was just taking my secondary lead and my knee kind of grabbed," McCutchen said. "It was just kind of weird. If your knee could get a cramp, that's what it felt like. I feel better now. They ran some tests, everything looked good. It's just going to be see how I feel tomorrow and go from there. ... If I feel any type of hindrance behind my knee then I'll take another day. We're moving in the right direction tonight. I'm walking fine, not limping or anything."

The Blue Jays are playing with a short roster because Kendrys Morales and Norichika Aoki have not been available for the past two games because of illness.

Their status for Saturday was not certain.

Rowley, 26, was 6-6 with a 2.29 ERA in 27 games (11 starts) between Double-A New Hampshire and Triple-A Buffalo this season.

He was 3-4 with a 2.82 ERA in 10 games (six starts) with the Bisons. Rowley was not drafted out of West Point and the Blue Jays signed him to a minor league contract in June, 2013.

After nine games in the Gulf Coast League that year, he had to begin his active duty obligation with the U.S. Army. Last year, Rowley applied for his release from active duty and joined Class A Dunedin.

Williams is 4-2 with a 3.66 ERA in his past 16 starts since allowing eight runs (six earned) in three innings in his first start, May 8 in Los Angeles.

He has allowed a home run in only three of his past 14 outings and has worked into the sixth inning in seven of his past nine starts. He will be making his 24th appearance of the season, and his 18th start.

Williams has never faced the Blue Jays. He is 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA in two career interleague starts.